Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't Charles Leno Jr. the long-term answer at left tackle for the Bears?
Leno was graded out at 48.6 for run blocking by Pro Football Focus, which was among the lowest of any starting tackle in the entire league. He was a seventh-round pick with multiple weaknesses identified in his draft profile, and he only has one year remaining on his contract worth just $600k.
Why can't the Bears just find a left tackle in free agency or the draft?
Elite left tackles almost never hit the free agent market, as the Bears learned the hard way with Jermon Bushrod, who was released due to multiple injuries after signing a five-year, $35 million deal. The 2017 draft class is also considered very weak for offensive tackles, with most top prospects projected to play right tackle rather than left.
How did Cody Whitehair end up playing center for the Bears in 2016?
Whitehair moved from guard to center after Hroniss Grasu tore his ACL during training camp, where Grasu had been pushing hard to win the starting center job. Whitehair went on to excel at the position for the rest of the season.
Who is Hroniss Grasu and why does he matter to the Bears' offensive line situation?
Grasu is a center Ryan Pace drafted in the third round of the 2015 draft out of Oregon, valued for his fantastic fundamentals despite being considered undersized. He tore his ACL in 2016 training camp and is now getting healthy, but has no starting spot to return to since Cody Whitehair excelled at center in his absence.
How did Jordan Howard's rushing success relate to the Bears' left tackle problem?
Howard finished second in the league in rushing despite having to deal with poor run blocking from Leno on his side of the line, while the interior of the offensive line excelled. The argument is that Howard could have been even more productive with a quality left tackle clearing the way on the right defensive end.